Ning and charles s



(No Model.)

H. K. HARK-ER.

SEAL LOCK.

Patented Apr. 13,y 1886.

UNITEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY K. HARKER, CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES B. SPIN- NING AND CHARLES S. GALLAGER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

SEAL-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,041, dated April 13, 18l6.

Application filed January 4, 1886. Serial No. 1883253. (No model.)

To all whom, z'z Huey concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY K. HARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Sealing Cars, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthisspeciiication.

My invention relates to an improvement in seal-locks, and is more especially adapted for use on freight-cars, by the use of which the car may be locked by a key containing the number ofthe station, date, &e., and cannot be opened without'breaking and destroying` the key. The lock, however, remains intact, and the car can be again locked by simply inserting a new key.

The novelty ot' my invention will be herein set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the lock applied and sealed. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pin and key, the pin being cut away to show its internal arrangement. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, showing the key partly inserted. Fig. 4 is the key. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form, eut away to show the internal arrangement.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

A is a hasp, one end of which is fastened to the body of the car and arranged to t over the staple B, fastened to the cardoor when the door is closed. Of course, the staple may be fastened to the body of the car, and the hasp hinged to the door, if preferred.

D is a pin which passes through the staple B, so as to inelose the hasp A and lock the car.

C is a chain to prevent the pin D from being lost, one end of it being fastened to the car or door.

In order to prevent the Withdrawal of the pin D and unlocking ofthe door, the key E is inserted in the pin below the staple. The pin is provided with an internal chamber, F, the slots G G being the only openings into this chamber. Within the chamber are one or more balls, preferably made of steel; or, if

preferred,a short bolt or plunger may be used, with it-s lower end beveled, as shown in Fig. 5. The key E is made to lit in the slots G G, and

is cut away near its middle, as shown at K. The opening should be` made with inclined sides at the top, as at L L, thus forming a sort of funnel,into which the balls or bolt will readily drop by gravity, the opening being enlarged below the shoulders L L. so that the 6c balls cannot be jolted out. The balls or bolt have a diameter greater than the width of the slot G, and cannot pass through it; hence the key cannot be withdrawn. Where a bolt is used, a circular groove near the lower end (shown at x, Fig. 5) is made to provide shoulders x', which will catch on the under side of the opening in the key and prevent the bolt from being jolted out.

The bottom of the chamber F is flush with 7o the bottom of the slots G G, so that when the key is not in, the holt or balls rest even with the bottom ofthe slots.

rIhe key E is made with one end Wedgeshaped, and can readily be inserted under the the balls or bolts to raise them, as shown in Fig. 3. As the key is pushed on in, the balls or bolt fall into the opening in the key and effectuallyseal it. To withdraw the key, it is necessary to break it off. It is therefore made 8o of some brittle or easily frangible metal, so that it can be broken off by a blow. As it is very much weaker at the point of the cut, it will always break near the middle, and the ends can readily be withdrawn.

If desired, the bottom of the slots may he made beveled toward the outside, as shown at l?, Fig. 5, for the more ready insertion of the key under the balls or bolt.

By having all keys marked with the name 9o or number of the station at which the car is locked, the car cannot be opened and relocked with another key without detection.

The ball or bolts act entirely by gravity, make the lock much more simple and cheap 95 than when springs are used, and much less liable to get out of order, and are always more reliable.

The bolts or balls are completely hidden, so that one unfamiliar with the lock would be ICO unable to learn its construction and operation.

I am aware that seal-locks have been made with a pin having an internal chamber` and spring-actuated bolts, for holding in place a key inserted transversely through slots or openings in the pin, and Ido not claim such a construction, nor do I claim, broadly, a seallock with a hollow pin carrying internal locking'devices; but.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim isy 1. In a seal-lock, the combination, with a transversely-slotted pin provided with an internal chamber carrynga gravitating locking device, of a key adapted to be inserted through said slots, and having its upper edge cut away to form a recess to receive the locking device, said recess being` enlarged at its bottom to form retaining-shoulders to prevent the withdrawal of the locking device.

2. In a seal-lock, the combination, with a transversely-slotted pin provided with an in-v` edge cut away to form a recess to receive saidv ball or balls, said recess being enlarged at its bottom to form retaining-shoulders to prevent the vwithdrawal of said ball or balls.

`3. In a seallock, the combination, with the pin D, having transverse slots G G, and chamvber F, carrying a. gravitating locking device,

of a key, E, having the cut-out portion K, with shoulders L L. slibstantially as and for the purpose specied. J f

HENRY K. HARKER.

Vitnesses:

EDWARD W. RECTOR, ARTHUR STEM. 

